Chapter 10

Not me writing a new chapter during class instead of paying attention...

I am literally typing this into Wattpad during my math class. RIP. Wish me luck.

Edit: For anyone wondering I passed the class ^^^

SIDE NOTE:

[] <These parentheses mean a flashback ok. Like if something is being narrated inside the parentheses it's a flashback.

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3rd Person POV

Another day comes once again for the young noble child. James wakes up to his maid Anne opening the curtains with the purpose of torturing him into getting out of bed as she has done countless times before. "Anne! 10 more minutes!!" Groans James as he rolls around in bed throwing his usual tantrum. "Young Lord, if you have the energy to throw such a fit, then you surely have to energy to get up." Says Anne, clearly annoyed, as she yanks the blanket off of James. "Noooo!!!" He screeches.

Yes, just another day in the Azuree manor.

Time Skip

"You are simply the most precious and adorable little jewel my little Christine." Says Lady Isabelle Azuree as she gushes over her now one year old daughter at the entrance of the Azuree manor.

"Say bye bye to mama sweetie!" She says as she pats her daughter's head. "Mama!!!" Says the little Christine with a wide smile. Isabelle then gushes at her cuteness and hugs her daughter as both of them giggle.

"Are you ready to depart for the Puissante Manor Jammie?" Asks Lady Azuree to her eldest child while setting her younger daughter in the arms of said child's personal maid. James can only sweat-drop at his mother's actions. 'At least my sister now shares my pain.' he thinks as he then smiles at his mother.

"Yeah! Ready to go." James says while Isabelle gushes over her handsome son. "*Squeal* Indeed my precious son could not be any cuter!" She says as James internally sighs at his mother's actions. "Very well then... Well shall now... GOOOOO!!!" Yells Lady Azuree as she grabs James' wrist and rushes to the carriage that awaits them to go to the Puissante Manor, having been invited by Duchess Victoria Puissante and her daughter Lady Viola Puissante for a small and casual tea party.

Time Skip

As James and Lady Isabelle arrive at the all too familiar dark and ominous Puissante Manor, they are soon greeted by Duchess Puissante and Lady Viola.

James steps out of the carriage with the dignity of the child of high nobility he is, gliding down the steps in swift movements and standing to the side of the steps to help his mother out of the carriage. Gently lifting his right hand and delicately holding Lady Azuree's hand as she gracefully steps out of the carriage and guiding her down the steps, the sunlight framing the flawless faces and upright frames as if straight from a fairy tale.

Anyone who would be lucky enough to witness this beautiful display of elegance coupled with their stunning looks would clearly see the two's noble status in their fluid movements alone.

"VICTORIIIAAAAAAA!!!" Yells Lady Azuree as she lets go of her son's hand and rushes to her childhood friend, ready to tackle said friend in a hug. Victoria however, already used to this, side steps resulting in Lady Isabelle anime faceplanting on the floor. "Goodness Lady Isabelle. Are you not capable of keeping up appearances until we reach the interior of the manor at the very least?" Asks Victoria as she looks down at her friend with a sigh. "So meeeeaaaan!" Says Lady Isabelle as she anime cries. 'So much for elegance.' Thinks James as he stares at his hyperactive mother.

Meanwhile, James had slowly been making his way to Duchess Puissante and Lady Viola. "Greetings Duchess Puissante, I take it you are well this fine afternoon." Says James charmingly while bowing elegantly to the duchess. "Ah, this is what I mean. How could it possibly be that your eight-year-old son is more mature than you Lady Isabelle." Says Victoria as Isabelle gets hit in the heart by that jab at her pride. 'Oh GOD! Breathe... Breathe... The final boss may be right infront of you, judging your every move. But if you keep calm she won't see you as an enemy! .... Maybe!' Thinks James nervously as he is absolutely terrified of Victoria. For if Viola was a threat before... She is nothing compared to her mother. '*Sigh* It looks like she liked the cheesiest line I could dish out so I think we're good.' Thinks James as he glances at Victoria's analyzing gaze.

"His posture is a work-in-progress, yet for a child it is quite above the rest... his manners are impeccable... hm, his wording could use some more eloquence... however, impressive in whole. I take it You had no part in this, hm?" Says Victoria in a teasing manner as Isabelle's pride swells with each compliment to her precious child, only to get hit with a K.O. with the jab at the end.

"Mother, shall we enter the manor to continue our conversation over tea?" Says Viola after having greeted James while Victoria was conversing with Isabelle. Victoria gives her daughter a small reprimanding glare for speaking out of turn, which results in Viola flinching ever so slightly in shame. "Yes of course. Let us continue over a lovely cup of tea." Says Victoria as she turns toward the manor and walks toward the room where they would enjoy their tea while Viola walks a step behind her with just as much elegance as her mother. 'Lady Victoria is scary as hell! But somehow... she's scary in a cool way... dangerous either way though, so I better stay on her good side until... the day I die... and maybe the afterlife, just to make sure.' Says James as he walks a step behind his mother, following Viola's example as she is the most versed in etiquette out of everyone he knows.

After sitting down, the two adults began some idle chit chat while James and Viola were left to their own idle chit chat... Which Viola carried for the most part of course, although Lady Victoria had given her a few disapproving looks for being so chatty, which James didn't like at all. But all in all, it was a very relaxing tea party and James enjoyed hanging out with Viola quite a lot.

Meanwhile, Lady Azuree and Lady Victoria would continue with their idle chatter but always glance to the children every so often, being satisfied with their clear familiarity and relaxed demeanor in each other's presence.

After a short while, both duchesses looked at each other and silently agreed. It was time.

James' POV

"Children." Called Isabelle in a soft voice as she and Victoria turned towards said children, one with suppressed excitement, and the other with calm anticipation. "I think it is about time that we announce something to you both." Says Isabelle with a smile on her face as Victoria continues her sentence.

"This tea party was not arranged for the sole reason of a casual conversation after all." Says lady Victoria with a rare genuine small smile now tugging at her lips. At this Viola's hand twitches in recognition as she has now caught on to what is happening, she has a small smile as a barely noticeable blush dusts her face. James catches this but is too confused to pay it any mind.

Lady Isabelle now continues with the announcement. "This tea party was actually arranged to announce to you both something. And that is...

Your Engagement."

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.

.

The moment those two words were uttered by his loving mother; everything went in slow motion. Time stopped. His brain stopped. His heart stopped.

'... Engagement?' thought James as memories rush through his head fast as a bullet, hitting him all at once yet he can clearly see them pass by one by one in a distorted but understandable mess...

Viola Puissante.

QuEeN Of ThE SoCiAl HiErArChY

She can have you killed in an instant

Is ShE AcTuAlLy NiCe?

ShE's Fake

Scary

Kind

DAnGeRoUs

Ge-n-tle

E N E M Y

F-R-I-E-N-D

Marriage

.

"NO!" Yells James in an outburst of accumulating emotion as his breath goes ragged and the light atmosphere grows heavy. Everyone is startled to silence as James can only look down at the ground.

They are all snapped out of it however by hearing only a few words. "N-no?" Asks a small and uncertain voice, not befitting its owner.

James' eyes widen as he realizes what he has done and jerks his head up to be met with the girl who had caught his attention.

There, he is met with pained eyes and a small frown belonging to a girl who once stood tall, now reduced to holding her hands up to her chest in worry, growing smaller by the minute.

"I- I-... N-... I-It's ... It's n-not like th-" Tries to say James nervously, but is soon interrupted by Viola herself. "It's fine." She says slightly louder than expected. "I... I understand... I am not to your liking... It cannot be helped if it is that way... I suppose... I am just not a desirable wife..." She says as she looks down to the floor, only to look back up at James with the most fake eye smile he has seen on her yet.

Victoria stands from her seat with a vicious glare directed towards the small child who trembles in fear and pain at how he has hurt his friend. "How. DARE. You. Speak to my daughter in that way." She says menacingly, burning with rage at her daughter's humiliation and broken heart. "You DARE think that she is not a suitable bride BRAT, who exactly do you THINK you are? To look down on her?!" Says the duchess, spitting words coated with venom at the child.

Duchess Azuree however, is quick to react, for her child will not stand unguarded either. "Victoria." Spits Isabelle in a menacing tone. "I advise you to watch your mouth." Isabelle says while glaring at the duchess.

Both Duchesses are now heatedly arguing with each other as the two children wallow in their own pain. Until finally, James has had enough of the chaos and the noise.

"I DON'T LIKE GIRLS!!!"

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The sudden yell snaps everyone into shocked silence, no one having expected such a response nor outcome.

James immediately realizing what he had done looks to the floor. His face holds utter dread as his whole body begins to tremble. He covers his mouth with both hands desperately while his eyes tear up, tears soon streaming down his face. His breath grows ragged as his thoughts go into an even more chaotic hurricane than before. His legs just begging to give way and collapse on the floor, but just before he can do that his mother's voice makes him look up and regret it immediately.

Eyes.

All bearing into his very soul.

Judgmental. DiSgUsTed.

Concerned. WoRrIeD.

Confused. WhAt DoEs It MeAn?

But most importantly. Unwavering Eyes.

[As young Hideki looked up at the person infront of him he was met with penetrating gazes of everyone around him, disgust swimming in their judgemental eyes. But the person whose opinion he cared for the most was no better.

Hideki stared right into the other boy's glaring eyes, his disgusted face, his angered look of outrage. He stared at the person he had finally gathered the guts to confess to, even if anonymously. Only to end up with this result. A betrayal so deep, he would never forget it].

All concentrated on him. [His classmates whispering about him, as if he was some freak]. Leaving no place for escape. [Everyone gathering around to watch the show unfold, amused by the drama]. Leaving him out in the open. [Everyone gossiping and giggling at his predicament. With nothing better to do with their lives]. Out for display. [Some staring in disgust, while others staring in amusement. 'As if I was some sort of funny toy no one has seen before']. For all to clearly see.

["Take your dumb love letters and get away from me..."]

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["Freak"]

His worst mistake.

James soon feels his vision blur and his already clouded mind begins to give way. But in the last effort of consciousnesses, he sprints towards the door and rushes out. Not being able to stand the chaos anymore, not being able to stand his mistake, not being able to stand their gazing eyes.

3rd Person POV

After James sprinted towards the door, Lady Isabelle called out to him in worry. Isabelle then went to chase after her son, not before however, stopping at the doorway for a split second and giving Duchess Victoria the nasties glare she had in store.

The Duchess reacted in arrogance as she turned away with a disgusted look and went to calm her own daughter who had began tearing up after James' second outburst. But she could not deny the weariness of the belle beast she had just awakened. "Now now. Viola, look at me dear." She says in a soft tone. Viola looks up with a mix of fear and worry in her eyes, but mostly, she was confused at what had just happened. Victoria wipes away her child's tears with a handkerchief and smiles softly at her.

"There is no need to fall apart for such a useless reason Viola. Have I not taught you to keep up a dignified appearance no matter the situation?" Coaxes Victoria softly as Viola sniffles and collects herself hurriedly. "Yes mother, my apologies." She says while Victoria turns away from her daughter.

"No need dear. I will let it pass this once. I myself had not expected such a result myself... I will cancel the engagement however, so you need not worry..." Says Duchess Victoria as Viola looks up at her, now having collected herself for the most part. "And... I suggest you cut ties with James Azuree... It would be disgraceful to associate yourself with him..." Says the duchess with disgust as she walks out of the room, wondering if Lady Azuree would come straight for her throat; she had to make preparations for a newfound enemy.

Meanwhile, Viola had been alone to her thoughts. "He... does not like girls? What... What does that mean? Is he perhaps still too young? But... I... Or does he not wish to get married at all?" Viola thinks, wondering why everyone reacted to brashly, and trying to figure out James' words, but she soon gave up, too tired by the events that had just transpired, and too confused to make sense of any of it without getting a headache soon after.

.

.

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Meanwhile, James had rushed into the carriage waiting for him and his mother outside. His feet had taken him there on instinct, which was a good thing as he wanted to leave already and lock himself in his room to wallow in self-loathing and pity. However, he had forgotten one little detail...

There was only one carriage...

His mother soon ran out of the manor after her son worried to death, only to find the door of the carriage closed and locked. "James..." She says in a soft voice. With her hands on the door. "...James... I-" She tries to comfort him in a pained voice, trying to figure out something to say to her son... But she comes up with nothing...

A few seconds go by, James curled up in the carriage with the curtains drawn, crying in the dark small space, alone. His mother just outside with her forehead on the door to said carriage, eyes tearing up as she internally yells at herself for being so useless in her son's time of need.

Isabelle sighs, she wipes her welling tears and walks away from the carriage with an unusually serious aura. "Benjamin... Could it be possible for me to sit beside you on our way back home?" Says Isabelle with a hesitant smile. Benjamin, the Coach who is driving the carriage stares at her incredulously. "B-But! My Lady! That... Why?" He asks confused as to why on earth would a Duchess such as herself do such a thing. "I-... I just felt like watching the scenery from outside." Says Isabelle in a cheerful voice as her coach sweat-drops at her answer.

During the trip, Isabelle plans out how to handle the situation with Victoria. The poisonous woman was not to be underestimated after all, she has ruined lives countless times before. But upsetting the balance between the four dukedoms would surely not be in her favor in any way...

Times Skip

After arriving at the Azuree Manor, James had immediately rushed into the mansion and desperately ran to his room avoiding everyone in the manor, keeping his gaze low. Duke Azuree had seen his son do so as he left his study, on his way to greet him and his wife. He knew his son was quite reckless but not to this extent. Lord Azuree asked his duchess about it, but the Lady seemed to grow pale and saddened at the mention of her dear son.

Meanwhile, James sat in the corner of his room. Crying, sobbing, trembling. His breath ragged, his thoughts swirling, his heart aching.

"It's over."

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